The exhibit is the brainchild of British artist Luke Jerram, who first installed the project in Birmingham in 2008. According to Jerram, it was estimated that 140,000 people across the city had played played with or listened to music from the pianos.

Since then, the concept has been brought to Brazil, London, Sydney and Barcelona.

San Jose, which began hosting the exhibit as part of its Biennial celebration, is the third city in North America to get the display, just behind Cincinnati and New York. San Jose is the project's West Coast debut.

"The goal behind the project is to place the pianos in community places where people might not otherwise have a reason to speak to each other," said Jaime Austin, the project's assistant curator.

The exhibit will last until September 22.

To find a piano in your area, click on the map below or go to www.streetpianos.com/sanjose2010/